It all ends here. Yes that’s right. After 48 tournaments the PGA Tour season concludes with the Tour Championship this week as the top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings will do battle both for this tournament and the huge bounty that comes with being the FedEx champion.
The points system has been revamped slightly so that anyone in the top five of the standings are in control of their own destiny. Those ranked 6-30 can all still win the FedEx Cup pot but they need inordinate help from the top five to get in the reckoning.
The five men in control of their own destiny are Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler and Henrik Stenson. If any of those five win this week they will be the FedEx champion. The last five winners of this tournament have gone on to win the overall prize so it could be worth looking at those five.
East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta is the venue for the tournament this week, as it has been permanently since 2004. The course is a par 70 which measures over 7300 yards so it is fairly long and with rain forecast this week it might well play every yard which will change the dynamic of the event.
In past years driving accuracy has been key around here. Only Bill Haas of the last five winners has been inside the top 10 in distance off the tee but only Horschel last year won being outside the top eight for accuracy. Accuracy is still going to be key but those with extra length on top should be better suited given the forecast.
Jason Day has won two of the playoff events and he is the 18/5 favourite to win this one too. Rory McIlroy goes into the event as the second favourite at 7/1 with Jordan Spieth third favourite. He’s 9/1 and Henrik Stenson is 11/1. Bubba Watson is 22/1 to win this tournament and the bounty.
In a 30 man field I’m not going to go mad this week. I have one main selection and I’m going to chance a couple down the field for a small stake and let the event play out. With no cut and two balls throughout I’ll aim to hit that area as the week goes on.
Rickie Fowler won at TPC Boston and then backed that up with a top five last week and he looks in the sort of form capable of getting in the mix this week. Fowler was eighth here last year but I think he’s playing better now. Nobody has one putted more greens than him in the playoffs so the short stick is working. If the irons fire up then Fowler could secure a bumper pay day come Sunday.
Bill Haas won here in 2011 and there is enough to believe he can do it again this week. He was tied for sixth in greens hit last week but holed absolutely nothing. Back on greens that have been good to him though you would expect his putting stroke to improve and if it does he has the all round game to land himself the title and who knows what else.
Kevin Kisner finished last week in style with a solid low round and he performs at his best on these Bermuda grass layouts. He’s long enough to be competitive and with a good all round game he shouldn’t be far away. He has a decent record on similar Donald Ross tracks and at the price he is worth chancing once again.
Back R.Fowler to win Tour Championship (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 13.00 with Coral (1/4 1-4)
Back B.Haas to win Tour Championship (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 71.00 with Betfred (1/4 1-4)
Back K.Kisner to win Tour Championship (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 91.00 with Coral (1/4 1-4)
